A leaf fell onto the marble floor inlaid with cloud stone fragments, unable to move, awaiting its fate to be stepped on.
Then a woman stepped on the leaf, her expression slightly melancholy.
The woman's surname was Chen, her given name Yushu, from South Borneo.
Chen Yushu sighed, looking up at the imposing building with the "Bichen Hall" plaque, then climbed the steps.
A young Daoist dressed as a Fourth Rank Sacrificial Wine Master was waiting at the top of the steps. After nodding to the woman, he led her through the Bichen Hall gates, through corridors and halls, stopping only at the door marked "Chief's Office."
Chen Yushu waited quietly as the young Daoist gently knocked, "Chief, Daoist Chen has arrived."
A voice came from inside, "Come in."
The young Daoist pushed the door open halfway, extending his other hand courteously, "Daoist Chen, please enter."
Chen Yushu was composed. Instead of rushing into the Chief's office, she took out a box of fine Hu brushes from her sleeve, with ivory brush handles and Lantian jade brush caps, smiling as she quietly offered them to the young secretary, "A scholar's gift, not against the rules. Please don't be too formal."
The secretary readily accepted the box of brushes, with a flip of his hand tucking it into his sleeve, his expression unchanged, "The Chief has been waiting."
With that, the secretary bowed slightly to let Chen Yushu enter through the half-open door, then gently closed it behind her.
Inside was the Chief's office, not too large, with simple furnishings. Besides the central desk, there were several floor-to-ceiling bookshelves against the walls, filled with various dossiers. The desk was also covered with dossiers, all stamped with "Top Secret."
A middle-aged man wearing a white jade lotus crown was working at the desk.
A Daoist's rank and position were separate. Second Rank Taiyi Daoists came in two types: ordinary Zhenren who could only wear gold lotus crowns, and Cenzhi Zhenren who could wear white jade lotus crowns after being elected as members of the Golden Palace Grand Council.
The Cenzhi Zhenren didn't look up or greet her, so Chen Yushu could only stand there, waiting quietly.
"Yushu, sit down."
The Cenzhi Zhenren finally spared a moment from his work to speak.
"I came uninvited, please forgive me, Uncle," Chen Yushu sat down gracefully.
"How is Grandfather Chen recently?" The Cenzhi Zhenren finally looked up, wearing a neat dark crane robe with a wisdom sword, his black hair perfectly neat, smiling but with no warmth in his eyes, like two bottomless wells. He was Zhou Xuangan, the Chief Deputy Hall Master of the Bichen Hall.
Chen Yushu lowered her eyes, her mood noticeably darker, "He's fine, just that he's reached retirement age and will step down next year."
Zhou Xuangan seemed not to understand, just saying, "Retiring is good. After working hard for half a lifetime, he deserves to rest and enjoy his retirement."
Chen Yushu pursed her lips, "Before he leaves, the tea has already gone cold. So I won't hide from you, Uncle. I came to see you because I have something to ask."
Zhou Xuangan laughed, "You're too formal. I'm just a Second Rank Taiyi Daoist, while Grandfather Chen is a First Rank Tianzhen Daoist and a member of the Central Council. He could just give orders."
Theoretically, the Golden Palace Grand Council was the most powerful body, with 108 members.
However, it was impossible for all 108 members to remain in the Jade Capital for deliberations, so they held meetings every few years. During these intervals, the Golden Palace Grand Council elected a Central Council to represent it and exercise supreme power, implementing the decisions of the Golden Palace Grand Council.
Central Council members were no longer Cenzhi Zhenren but Pingzhang Dazhenren, First Rank Tianzhen Daoists wearing purple gold lotus crowns. There were 36 members of the Central Council.
The Central Council then elected a Supreme Council from these 36 members, including one Grand Master and six Deputy Grand Masters.
This was the Daoist sect's "Great," "Central," and "Supreme" three-tier council system.
The Supreme Council was the highest leadership body of the Daoist sect, while the Central Council was the highest authority. The weight of a Central Council member was evident.
Chen Yushu managed a weak smile, speaking softly, "Uncle, Grandfather said you are Great Master Qi's successor."
Zhou Xuangan was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "If I were Great Master Qi's successor, I wouldn't just be a Cenzhi Zhenren but a Pingzhang Dazhenren."
Chen Yushu said, "This is a secret known to very few."
Zhou Xuangan smiled sardonically, "Even if I were Great Master Qi's successor, you want to use me to connect with Great Master Qi? Unfortunately, Great Master Qi is elusive. Whether I am or am not Great Master Qi's successor, I don't know where she is."
Of course, this wasn't true. Li Qingping had learned from Zhou Xuangan that Great Master Qi would go to Penglai Island.
Chen Yushu didn't argue, just said, "I don't dare to hope for such a thing. But Grandfather mentioned that Great Master Qi had seen the complete 'Heavenly Change Map' and had the ability to identify extraterrestrial visitors and primordial qi. I believe Uncle must have inherited such true teachings."
Zhou Xuangan's expression became more serious, "Extraterrestrial visitors?"
Chen Yushu nodded, "Exactly."
Zhou Xuangan pondered for a moment, "Yushu, do you know what extraterrestrial visitors truly mean?"
Chen Yushu hesitated, "I heard they hold the secrets of ascension."
Zhou Xuangan laughed, with a hint of mockery, "That's true. Extraterrestrial visitors do indeed hold the secrets of ascension, the last hope in this lawless era. But that's not what I'm asking. I want to know what the essence of extraterrestrial visitors is."
Chen Yushu was stunned, "I… I don't know."
"Let me tell you then," Zhou Xuangan said, "Don't be deceived by this 'visitor' word, thinking they are human. They have never been human, nor beasts or demons, not even immortals, buddhas, or deities. They are great beings from higher dimensions, world masters who spy on humanity, growing stronger by consuming fragments of the human world. So they have another name: Outer Realm Demons."
Chen Yushu was speechless.
Zhou Xuangan continued, "You should thank the current human world, which is already in the late Taiji period, solid and unbreakable, allowing you to hear what I've said. In the earlier human world, during the Taosu period, or even earlier Taishi and Taichu periods, when the Heavenly Path wasn't severed, just knowing about Outer Realm Demons could lead to their detection and corruption, ultimately resulting in a terrible death."
Chen Yushu asked, "Is there no way to resist?"
Zhou Xuangan replied, "As early as the Ancient Taiping Dao period, Daoists began to encounter Outer Realm Demons and conducted extensive exploration and research. While the methods to resist Outer Realm Demons are little known, they do indeed exist."
Chen Yushu's spirits lifted, "So Uncle must truly be Great Master Qi's only successor to know such methods."
Zhou Xuangan neither confirmed nor denied, "Yushu, is Grandfather Chen's time running out?"
Chen Yushu pressed her lips together, "The Old Harbor Pacification Commission battle left him with a lingering illness. Now his old injuries have flared up. Although his lifespan isn't exhausted, his three corpse spirits are rampant, smoke rising from his seven orifices. I fear he won't have a good end. I don't dare to ask for Great Master Qi's immortality techniques, only that Grandfather can enjoy his twilight years."
Zhou Xuangan revealed the truth, "Involving the three corpse spirits does indeed require immortality techniques. But these are different times. With the lawless era upon us, past immortality techniques no longer work. The Outer Realm Demons do hold the secrets of immortality, but I can tell you that immortality obtained through extraterrestrial visitors comes at a heavy price."
Silence fell in the office.
Finally, Zhou Xuangan broke the silence, "Regarding Grandfather Chen's matter, Great Master Qi has her own considerations. You needn't worry too much. If I'm not mistaken, Great Master Qi has already prepared a good medicine for Grandfather Chen. However, good medicine tastes bitter, and Grandfather Chen should be prepared to endure some hardship."
Chen Yushu was doubtful.
"Yushu, you may not understand these words now, but it doesn't matter. Just remember one thing: I won't harm Grandfather Chen. When you return, pass these words on to him. He will understand," Zhou Xuangan glanced at the very antique water clock in the office, "I have a meeting soon, so I won't keep you longer."
"Goodbye, Uncle," Chen Yushu didn't linger, rising to bow before turning and walking directly toward the door.